“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house.” – Matthew 13:57

       I thought that when I grew older, I’d be able to handle rejection better. No such luck. No matter what age, rejection will always be painful. I was already 25 years old when I had a big crush on a pretty girl. I fell in love with her because she had the heart of St. Claire. In a prayer meeting, she had a radar for people who felt the most isolated and unwelcome. In every prayer meeting, she’d search for and sit beside these people who felt unwanted because they were ugly or dirty or filthy. She’d make them feel comfortable. So I courted her all-out. But in the end, she rejected me. Later, I learned why: Because I wasn’t ugly.

      Just kidding. For some reason, she rejected me. And it hurt like crazy. I wept a bucket of tears.

       It hurts when people reject us. Why? Because deep in our soul, we’re longing for one thing: acceptance. We’re thirsting for someone to recognize our worth, to embrace us “as we are.”

       Friend, there is Someone who has accepted you — even when you were still in your mother’s womb.

     God accepts you as you are. And the moment you allow Him to embrace you in your sinfulness, you will have the power to embrace others in their sinfulness. Bo Sanchez (bosanchez@kerygmafamily.com)

Reflection: What area of your life have you not accepted yet?

Dearest Lord, help me to be more accepting — not only of others but most especially of myself. Amen.

St. Joseph the worker, pray for us.

To experience one’s full dignity, a person must have work to do. We need to share in the creative work of God through our own work. In this way, we add to the heritage of humanity. Part of a responsible way of life is reflecting on what we can offer to humanity through our lives, through our work.

Genesis 1:26-2:3 (or Colossians 3:14-15, 17, 23-24)

26 God said: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all the creatures that crawl on the ground.” 27 God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them, saying: “Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that move on the earth.” 29 God also said: “See, I give you every seed-bearing plant all over the earth and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it to be your food; 30 and to all the animals of the land, all the birds of the air, and all the living creatures that crawl on the ground, I give all the green plants for food.” And so it happened. 31 God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good. Evening came, and morning followed — the sixth day. 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth and all their array were completed. 2 Since on the seventh day God was finished with the work he had been doing, God rested on the seventh day from all the work he had undertaken. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation.

R: Lord, give success to the work of our hands.

2 Before the mountains were begotten and the earth and the world were brought forth, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. 3 You turn man back to dust, saying, “Return, O children of men.” 4 For a thousand years in your sight are as yesterday, now that it is past, or as a watch of the night. (R) 12 Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart. 13 Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants! (R) 14 Fill us at daybreak with your kindness, that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days. 16 Let your work be seen by your servants and your glory by their children. (R)

Jesus’ earthly father, Joseph, was a carpenter. Carpentry is a humble and honorable occupation. There is no moral difference between jobs and trades. It is not for us to judge if one job is better than another. Just because someone has a high-paying or prestigious job does not make him a better person. The worth of a person is found in how he lives his life.

Blessed be the Lord day by day, God, our salvation, who bears our burdens.

54 Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, “Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? 55 Is he not the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? 56 Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?” 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house.” 58 And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.

think: How do you give glory to God through your work?

Read the Bible in one year Numbers 31-33

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________________________

ST. JOSEPH, ROLE MODEL OF WORK

It’s common knowledge that today’s feast of St. Joseph the Worker was instituted by Pope Pius XII in 1955 to counteract the communist or socialist movements concerning May 1 as Labor Day. This particular day in honor of laborer’s rights, and consequently labor unions and legislation, actually predates the institution of the memorial of St. Joseph the Worker, the annual Labor Day commemoration having been established in 1889.

       This surely isn’t an instance of the Catholic Church merely appropriating  or “baptizing” a secular reality or concern. The dignity of work, together with other teachings on related issues, such as workers’ rights, is something very much part and parcel of the Catholic Church’s social teaching.

       Jesus was referred to as “the carpenter’s son” in our Gospel today. Although it was uncomplimentary or derogatory, it nevertheless shows Jesus’ humble origins as a man — with St. Joseph playing a special role.

       It is worth noting that St. Joseph is one of two saints having two dates in the liturgical calendar for himself. March 19 is also a St. Joseph feast — that of him being the Spouse of Mary and Patron of the Universal Church. This is wonderful, in a way. We find in one single person — who is not just any person, but a truly “just man” — two dimensions, as though merged together. In the same line of thought, there need not be any conflict or dichotomy between the two, just as there is no conflict between the spiritual and the human aspects of work. They enrich and ennoble each other. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

---------- REFLECTION QUESTIONS ----------

What is your attitude towards work? Do you look at it as something noble and part of God’s plan? Or is it merely a source of income for you? Does the work you do also have a spiritual dimension for you?

On behalf of the farmers in our fields, the workers in our factories, the employees in our offices —allow me to offer You, Lord, all our humble efforts. Bless them and make them fruitful. Amen.